Two Palermo doctors certify death that relatives won't accept

(ANSA) - Palermo, February 12 - A Palermo family says they
are not insane but refuse to accept the death of their mother,
despite certificates from two doctors, because after almost a
week her body has shown no signs of decomposition.

As some neighbors claim a miracle has occurred, medical
officials say Grazia Bruno, a 68-year-old with pancreatic
cancer, shows no sign of life, including no heart beat.

But her children maintain their vigil around Bruno's open
coffin in her home near Palermo, saying that without evidence of
rigor mortis, which would stiffen her body, or signs of
decomposition, they cannot accept that she is truly dead.

"I do not want to bury our mother alive," said her son
Francesco Passalacqua.

He is supported by neighbors in the village of Villagrazia
di Carini, who say it's a miracle and are visiting the
blanket-wrapped corpse with a sacred image adjacent.

"We're not mad, we only have the evidence of what has been
going on," added Passalacqua, who says the family is waiting for
their mother to wake up.
"If there were signs of decomposition, we would leave her
to rest in peace," he said.

The family hopes this is a case of apparent death, which
they say some doctors have said is possible.
The official record says Bruno died on February 6 during
the evening.